The race to sign power forward Alex Loughton to the NBL has been won by his home town club Perth Wildcats, who have also persuaded Adam Caporn to stay in Western Australia for another two years.

Boasting impressive credentials and statistics, Loughton's return to Australia after playing for Old Dominion University in Virginia and then in the Spanish League had sparked interest from several NBL outfits.

The Wildcats announced the 24-year-old, 205cm, Loughton had committed to two years with them as a replacement for departing stalwart Tony Ronaldson in a major coup according to coach Scott Fisher.

"To have a West Australian of his calibre give up lucrative European contracts and choose to play for the Wildcats is a big deal not just for the sport but for our championship campaign," Fisher said.

"We are all in agreement that Tony's best is behind him whereas Alex's best is in front of him.

"With Alex we are bringing in someone who we believe is going to be an impact player in this league.

After completing his schooling in Australia, Loughton studied at Old Dominion in Norfolk, where he ranked sixth in the university's history for rebounding and tenth for scoring all time.

He moved to Spanish side Gandia for his first professional season, racking up more than 15 points and five rebounds per game as a starter last year.

And despite a relatively low profile in his home country, Loughton has repeatedly made the Boomers squad.

"Alex is someone I have been watching for three years, and Luc Longley has been watching for five," Fisher said.

"We always hoped we would be in a position to entice him back home ... and we had to convince him this is where he is going to have the most fun, and enjoy life the most and improve as a player."

In a double dose of good news, the Wildcats will also have the services of point guard Caporn for another two years.

The 25 year-old was pivotal in the success of the Wildcats early in the season until he was sidelined with injury requiring knee surgery.

Massive pick up, we are definetly title contenders next season. Let's hope the cats can ensure that P C, Ryan and others stay. Loughton had that good a college career in the U S that he should've been playing NBA.

WA basketball great Andrew Vlahov has sold his remaining share in the Perth Wildcats to majority owner Jack Bendat, ending the four-time Olympian’s eight-year hold on the NBL club.

However, Vlahov, who been associated with the Perth team as a player and owner since 1991, will remain as managing director of the Wildcats for at least the next two seasons.

Documents obtained by The West Australian reveal Bendat bought Vlahov’s 25 per cent stake in the club, and the 5 per cent share held by real estate supremo Mack Hall, last month. Bendat, one of the State’s wealthiest businessmen, took a 70 per cent share of the club’s parent company, Wildcats 2000 Pty Ltd, 15 months ago.

Vlahov bought into Perth, along with WA’s NBA star Luc Longley, in 1999. Longley gave his 50 per cent share to Vlahov in 2004 when the former Chicago Bulls centre revealed he had lost the passion to run an NBL team.

Wildcats chief executive Nick Marvin said there was nothing extraordinary behind the transaction and it was believed Bendat wanted total control of the club to streamline its business.

The Perth team has been without a major sponsor since the 2005-06 season and Bendat has been underwriting much of the club’s operations since coming on board.

The priority for the Wildcats is to find a new major sponsor and Vlahov will continue to oversee those negotiations.

“It is tough without a strong financial supporter but it looks promising on that front,” Vlahov said.

“There is no change to any of the order of business at the club. Jack continues to reiterate that I run the team and our relationship is one that is currently working very well.”

Vlahov is one season into a threeyear contract as Wildcats managing director. The rest of the board is Freehills law consultant Ted Sharp, tax specialist Keith Johns, former shadow health spokesman Mike Board and Bendat.

Marvin said Bendat’s decision to take total control was part of his plan to bring Perth their first NBL pennant since 2000.

“Andrew has been one of the most generous Wildcats players and has proven that further by underwriting this club for almost 10 years,” Marvin said. “He and Jack . . . have given up their time and money to keep this sport alive in WA.”

The Wildcats’ next move is to sign a second import for the new season.

Wildcats sign Saville Australia as major sponsorTuesday 29 May, 2007The Perth Wildcats today announced the signing of Saville Australia as its major sponsor.

The $1million plus, three-year contract with a two year option represents a long-term commitment from one of the Western Australia’s most exciting and progressive property developers.

“This is a partnership of winners,” said club owner Jack Bendat of the sponsorship. “We have a successful West Australian company sponsoring the most successful sporting club in Western Australia.”

“I got involved with basketball for the kids and I know that Saville is motivated in much the same way. I’ve always said that it is our duty as accomplished businessmen to give something back and I’m glad to see others doing the same,” he said.

Peter Kavanagh, Saville Australia Director, said he was excited to be involved in a Perth sporting club and was particularly drawn towards the community involvement.

“This sponsorship is about us giving back to the community” he said. “We’ve built some great properties in Perth and have just launched another landmark inner city development, Capital Square. I can’t think of anything better than putting something back into this wonderful city,” he said.

‘Cats go Fast and Furious with Rashad PhillipsTuesday 26 June, 2007The Perth Wildcats have signed two-time MCC Player of the Year - Rashad Phillips as their second import for the 07/08 season.

Likened to Allan Iverson the lightning-quick diminutive 5-10 guard will bring speed, agility and seasoned floor-marshalling experience to the team this season.

“Baby Iverson” as he was called in his college years, Phillips starred at the University of Detroit with impressive statistics. He averaged double-digit points in all four seasons and led the Mid-Continent Conference (MCC) in points two years running. Phillips was the all-time leading scorer for the University of Detroit and the first in school history for 3-points made (348) and free throws made (541). He was only the second ever in steals (190) and free-throw percentage (87.5%).

Phillips arrived after a successful stint in Europe playing for Lacplesa Alus Valmiera where18.2 points per game and 5 assists per game. His free-throw percentage was even better than his college career at 88.9% and his 3-point shooting average was at 50%.

“This signing has been more than six-months in the making,” said CEO Nick Marvin, “and we are very excited to have such a perfect fit for our team,” he said. “Phillips can score from anywhere given the chance – whether it’s a jumper, a perimeter shot or a drive-by, he is going to be fast and dangerous.”

Head Coach Scott Fisher was thrilled to announce the signing. “We were deficient last year on our on-ball plays offensively, with Rashad that will not be the case,” he said. “Teams felt comfortable pressing us last season, with Rashad I offer this advice – Beware!”

With the signing of Alex Loughton and Rashad Phillips the Wildcats will be a much faster team this year. “Speed will be very much a part of our offensive strategy, and coupled with our strong defensive skills, Challenge Stadium will be battlefield in coming months,” Fisher said.

PERTH, Australia (3 July 2007) - The Perth Wildcats today announced the signing of import Shawn Redhage until the year 2010.

Originally joining the club in 2005 after being released from New Zealand, Redhage captured the attention of the entire National Basketball League with his athletic ability, strong work ethic and dogged determination.

In his first year he won the club's Gordon Ellis Medal (Club MVP), Season Member's MVP and runner-up NBL MVP.

In 06/07 he won the club MVP for the second year running and by doing so joined an elite group of Wildcats stalwarts including Crawford, Grace, Fisher and Vlahov.

Not since Ricky Grace has the club made such a long term commitment to a player and in particular an import of this magnitude. At the end of this contract Redhage would have completed a five-year term with the club.

Earlier this year the club successfully gained a permanent resident status for Redhage which will allow him to compete as a non-restricted player in

2009 in the NBL opening up a third import opportunity.

"Not only is he an excellent player and a consummate professional, Shawn is great bloke," Wildcats managing director Andrew Vlahov said. "The length of this contract reflects our commitment to him and our intention to build the team around players like him," he said.

Scott Fisher was a very content man on Wednesday. Like a kid who's just placed the last piece of a puzzle to complete the picture, he was all smiles at the sight of star import - Rashad 'Baby Iverson' Phillips.

Fresh off a 20-plus hour flight from Detroit, Michigan, Phillips showed no signs of jet lag - rather a keen enthusiasm to get started on the matter at hand - winnng a championship.

"I'm here and ready to play he said," entertaining the gathered media contingent at the Perry Lakes stadium with his sharp shooting skills and ball handling expertise.

"He's fresh of the plane and hasn't warmed up," warned head coach Scott Fisher, but Rashad had no reservations in proving that he could delier on the hype.

Moments earlier at his press conference he announced that when it came to his ability on court he had no weaknesses. A d here he was on court to explain exactly what he meant.

Whilst at college Phillips was rated on par with fellow room-mate Kobe Bryant, however, his diminutive 5'10" frame has restricted his success in the NBA. But what he lacks in size he delivers in speed and accuracy.

"You can measure my height but you can't measure my heart," he said. "I'm fast and I can shoot!"

Apart from the numerous all-ime records at his university, Phillips joins the Wildcats from a stint in Europe where he averaged close to 90% from the free-throw line and 50% from the three-point perimeter.

"Wildcats fans are in for a faster more offensive style of basketball," Fisher said today. Rashad brings that speed and sharp-shooting to the club this year. Together with Alex Loughton we are going to be a truly offensive force in the NBL."

The Cats are looking at former Wildcat Aaron Trahair as the last spot on the cats team. He is training with the club and has an offer to join the Singapore Slingers but the cats may offer him a contract later this week.

With Damien Ryan not coming back he may fit the bill to come off the bench and hit the big shot.